Replacing Tires on my GMC

[captbru]

My tow vehicle is a 2017 GMC 2500HD. The original tires are Firestone
LT225/75R17, they only have 23000 miles. I have rotated these tires at every oil change approx. every 5000 miles. All four tires have worn fairly equal. They need to be replace as the tread on all tires now minimal.

What would be a good choice for replacement tires? I'm towing a Keystone Cougar Lite Fifth wheel model 26rls. Empty weight about 6800lbs loaded about 8300.

[BigToe]

captbru wrote:
I'm just looking for a good set of tires, not what did you due wrong to cause the tires to wear down.

A good set of tires for you might be different than a good set of tires for another person. Operating environment and driving style can be significant factors to take into consideration when choosing a tire whose balance of characteristics is biased toward longer survival or more favorable performance when subjected to a particular type of environment or driving style.

The advice dispensed on an open forum is free of financial charge, but not free in terms of the courtesy tendered to receive it. Biting the hand that feeds, when that hand is merely trying to assess the facts of the operating environment and driving style that might inform a better choice of tire... is not likely going to encourage that hand to followup with another morsel, regardless of the data provided.

If all tires were just simple round black things, rather than a tricky balance of sometimes mutually exclusive characteristics, including, but not limited to dry traction, wet traction, low noise, fuel economy, tread life, carrying capacity, roll stability, directional control, scuff resistance, stone ejection, hydroplane resistance, heat rejection, snow performance, regulatory conformance, ride quality, and let's not forget cost... then there wouldn't be so many brands, types, and offerings in the tire industry.

The very characteristics that make one tire perform optimally in one parameter, can make that same tire perform dismally in another. Therefore, there is no perfect tire. The ideal tire is the tire that best meets a balance of traits that prioritizes the parameters that the tire will most likely be required to deliver in service. And that can depend on the operating environment and driving style.

20,000 miles out of set of new tires, in this day and age, is DISMAL tread life. Anyone similarly situated would benefit by examining what factors would cause such shortened tread life when considering a replacement set of tires. Maybe a harder rubber compound, that might sacrifice suppleness for durability, is where the balance of tire traits should shift in order to better meet the specific driver's need. However, if defensiveness doesn't even permit that discussion, then naturally that free advice becomes unavailable.

captbru wrote:
looks like Michelin is the way to go.

Two blow outs reported, from two different parties, each causing $3,500 in damage, and this is the conclusion drawn?

[pitch]

Charlie D. wrote:

pitch wrote:
Because the OP only got 20000 miles out of a set of tires. Seems to me that the only criteria GM used was to put four round black things under the truck and send it down the road.

I like Coopers myself! Got a set with better than 50k on them and still going strong.

I think that can be said of all manufacturers. What type Coopers? I did not get the same performance with Cooper's.

Discoverer AT3 in 17" on a ram 1500. 53k and change about 10/12k towing a 5 thousand lb tt and a small utility.

I don't know, driving style road temperature, type of road?
I am a very conservative driver, almost 0 freeway driving, state hiways and town roads, temperate Northeast as opposed to very hot Texas?

[Grit_dog]

Tire, warranty? Lol

Tires are tires. Find the size, load rating, price, tread pattern you like and buy them. Anyone who says one tire is the best and the other is junk is mostly FOS. Yes some wear better due to tread design or compound, others get better traction, etc. Generally cost = quality, but there are some deals to be had.

Here's the quick n dirty guide to tires.

If you're an AARP member or collecting a pension/social security, Michelin or Bridgestone are your best bet. Unless you want the other cronies at the diner to make fun of you.
If you're middle aged, normal dude, who does a little bit of everything with the truck and you're past your midlife crisis and don't need to measure d!cks with the kid down the street on 40" boggers, then a nice AT tread is for you.

If you're a rugged outdoorsman who may climb Everest one day and race the Baja the next, then a burly set of MT's is your tire.

If your hat brim is flat and your truck has an 8" lift in front but only 4" in back, then buy the same mudders as the outdoorsman, but make sure they're stretched out on a set of American Force rimz and they come with a lifetime supply of Armorall.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance!

[Charlie_D_]

pitch wrote:
Because the OP only got 20000 miles out of a set of tires. Seems to me that the only criteria GM used was to put four round black things under the truck and send it down the road.

I like Coopers myself! Got a set with better than 50k on them and still going strong.

I think that can be said of all manufacturers. What type Coopers? I did not get the same performance with Cooper's.

[Charlie_D_]

Check your limited warranty manual. They have a Pro-Rate Chart that coverage mileage. You could get a discount on new tires but it may include the same tire. If you get tires through GM, they will cover labor/mount and balance under your bumper-to-bumper warranty which should be 3 year/36,000 miles.
My 2013 came with Firestone Transforce that only gave me 27,000 miles. Replaced them with Cooper HT3 that gave me 25,000 when I traded and they were soon to need replacement. All 17" tires.
I maintained pressures as listed on the door jam and frequent rotation and were worn evenly. I tow 10,000# about 30% of the time. I have never gotten the mileage tires are supposed to get. That has also included BFG Radial T/A's and Bridgestone.

Tire dealers never offered to prorate tires and I never pursued a warranty.

[BigToe]

bob213 wrote:
I just had a blowout with a Michelin LTX MS2 that did $3450. in damage to my truck. I have the newer model Michelin LTX Defender on my other truck. They are not the same tire. I would buy the Defender again.

Interesting parallel experiences... LTX blowout and $3,500 damage. My neighbor's tire was also the MS, not the Defender.

[pitch]

BigToe wrote:
My neighbor had a terrific blowout with Michelin LTX tires purchased at Costco.

Took out the entire side of the pickup bed of his GMC. Tires had just been rotated, so it is assumed that the blown tire was previously on the steer axle.

$3,500 body shop bill.

With GM vehicles, I replace with the original equipment production tire, if still available, that matches GM's OEM Tire Performance Criteria ratings.

Some people assume that OEM manufacturers award tire contracts to the lowest bidder, without regard for the tire performance criteria, and without vetting.

I don't think this makes much sense. With the light truck market as competitive as it is in the USA, consumer purchase decisions between brands are finalized on the test drive. Where the rubber meets the road. And that rubber is one of the most influential factors in ride and handling... and ride and handling is the most influential factor in affecting how prospective purchasers feel and experience that test drive. So for a vehicle manufacturer to simply put the cheapest possible tire on their trucks in order to save money, but lose the sale, doesn't make much sense.

The OEM tire has already been thoroughly tested and vetted by GM, in the Arizona desert, on the Colorado mountains, in the North Dakota winter, and on the Michigan test track. Why not take advantage of all the testing and vetting that you already paid for with the price of the truck?

Because the OP only got 20000 miles out of a set of tires. Seems to me that the only criteria GM used was to put four round black things under the truck and send it down the road.

I like Coopers myself! Got a set with better than 50k on them and still going strong.

[captbru]

I rotate the tires at every oil change since new, I have the dealer due the oil changes right around 5000 miles.

I run the rear tires at 80PSI and the front at 75PSI.

Have about 5000 towing miles with the fifth wheel and then a few hundred miles with a utility trailer.

No lead foot while towing the fifth wheel on the Interstate I set the cruise at 62 or 63, never over 65 except to pass if needed. Then back to the set speed. On back roads I due the posted speed limit. When not towing I due the speed limit or no more than 75 on the Interstate if the posted limit is 70.

Hope this answers your questions. I'm just looking for a good set of tires, not what did you due wrong to cause the tires to wear down.

Thank you to the ones that answered, looks like Michelin is the way to go.

[Groover]

I too am curious about why the original tires wore so quickly. Some of the best tires that I have owned were Firestone and I generally got well over 50,000 on a set.

[N-Trouble]

I would want to find out why I burnt through those tires so quick.

What PSI do you run?
How much of those miles are towing?
Are ya a lead foot?

[ktmrfs]

while I have poor regard for michelin car tires, poor performance and quick tire wear and noise compared to other tires. But I have lots of good experience with Michelin LT tires. On my 2015 duramax I replace the OEM bridgestones with Michelin LTX Defender. The michelins are so much better tire for wet and dry traction than the OEM bridgestones ever where. And our son runs the same tires on my old 2004.5 duramax, same experience.

I've also run the Michelin MS2 before with good results.


While GM may think the bridgestone OEM tires my duramax came with are a great tire, I thought they really sucked for wet and dry traction. And they were not very good in light snow either. Nor did they give me very good tread life. All I could say for them is that they were a quite tire.

I don't know what the firestone OEM tires are like but since Bridgestone/Firestone are the same company, I wonder if there is any difference between the bridgestone and firestone OEM tire other than the name on the side.

At one time I liked Toyo's but Les Schwab has a stranglehold on them in areas they have stores and the prices are now outrageous. But Discount tire can order them for you. I had a set of Toyo HT on my old duramax and was happy with them.

[bob213]

I just had a blowout with a Michelin LTX MS2 that did $3450. in damage to my truck. I have the newer model Michelin LTX Defender on my other truck. They are not the same tire. I would buy the Defender again.

[captbru]

Yes Diesel

[Jayco23FB]

Diesel?

[ksss]

There are much better tires than Michelin, especially if you need more than a highway tire.